Stone 09.09.09 Vertical Epic Ale

Brewed by Stone Brewing Co.
Style: Belgian Strong Ale
Escondido, California USA

On tap during the annual Boston/Salem/Marble head tour. Sampled at the Sunset grill. Sampled side by side with 08. Deep brown pour with a molasses and dried fruity aorma. Nice ginger and chocolate flavor with a citrus finish. Man this was good but we chose 08 3-1 over this one by a narrow margin.

Pours a deep brown, almost black color with a thick tan head. Aroma is notes of coffee, chocolate, citrus. Flavor is roasted malts, notes of coffee, chocolate, citrus peel. Hmmmm, very "Terry’s Chocolate Orange." As warms, alcohol becomes more present. Alcohol is well disguised through most of this, though as it warms the alcohol becomes more present. At first seems less than what bottle says (8.9%).

Bottle. Pours a very dark brown color with a small beige head that is foamy but recedes leaving much lacing and a small ring. nose is heavy on the chocolate and roast with a light vanilla note. Palate is full and fluffy with a heavy mouth feel and a bitter finish. Chocolate resonates in the throat, near the epiglottis. Flavor is dominated by chocolate and dark malts, maybe to help with the aging? not sure, but its good now just a little bit intense. This could probably be labeled as some sort of stout I would imagine. it is pretty good though.

Bottle: The aroma consists of chocolate, Belgian yeast, bananas, roastiness, and a hint of vanilla. It somewhat weizenbock-like. It pours a a dark brown, with no transparency, and a half inch tan head with decent retention and spotty lacing. The flavor starts starts with some light fruit and milk chocolate. There are some hints of banana and roastiness in the background. The finish becomes more of a bittersweet black chocolate, vanilla, and some faint burnt and citrus notes. It’s medium bodied with soft carbonation and mouthfeel. It comes across like a combination of a malty Imperial Stout and a Weizenbock.

A good strong head of fine and dense bubles. Brown in color and lasting for quite a while. Rich roasty aroma with some light coffee, malted milk balls and some chocolate covered cherries. Color is a very dark brown. Medium bodied with lots of roasted grains, chocolate malt, burnt toast and some anise. I am not sure I would clasify this as any sort of belgain brew. Light alcohol presence and light bitterness. Finishes roasty and a bit grainy. Not my favorite of the vertical epic series.

Coffee, dark chocolate, hop sting. One of the darkest heads I’ve seen over opaque black. surprisingly light in the mouth. I get a fish taste, like anchovies wihtout the salt (I like anchovies), roast malt, butter, the hop bitterness, light smoke, alcohol well disguised. still that fish flavor thorows me off with each new sip. alcohol warming and astringent finish. I’d classify this as an imperial stout.

22oz bottle. Pours very deep brown, topped with a moderate sized tan head. Aroma is fairly spicy, with notes of orange, vanilla, chocolate, licorice and espresso. Flavor begins with orange and espresso, which are soon joined by roasted chocolate malt, vanilla, and earthy hops. Citrus, cocoa, and overripe fruit linger on the palate. Not bad, but not very exciting.

Growler: Deep brown with a dark creamy head. Chocolaty malt aroma with a moderate roast presence and a fruity yeast character. Silky body- soft fruity sweetness in the flavor with a raisin and chocolate note. Some mild peaty smoke is there and it dries out quite nicely. Slightly charred on the back. A pretty nice beer, though doesn’t seem like a Belgian Strong Ale.